Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,102
castle as a warning for others.”
“You have to let the anger and bitterness go,” I said.
“Never. I still hear their dying screams. Hundreds of fae, and I was unable to protect them. Only blood will stop their ghosts from plaguing me.” Spit fell from her lips, and I saw the crazed look in her dilated pupils. I knew she couldn’t be brought back. Her mind was too far gone.
“I’m sorry, Mother, please forgive me.” I raised my hand and touched her forehead.
Somnus.
Tatiana sighed and fell to the ground.
King Pharell realizing his defeat, begged and bargained. “Now, if you just let me go, we can talk about your future. I mean, our future. What do you think about an alliance?”
“I would never align myself with the likes of you.” I grinned evilly as the branch that was wrapped around my arm rose up like a snake and pricked the king in the neck. His eyes rolled back in his head before he went limp.
Chapter Thirty
“Well, I never expected this from you.” Mother Eville walked among the destroyed main hall, stepping carefully over a sleeping woman. “Maeve, yes, but not you, Aura.”
“It had to be done,” I said numbly. “I had no other choice. They would have continued to attack under the influence of the king’s compulsion until no one was left standing.”
Mother moved toward a golden branch that was wrapped around King Pharell. The king’s mouth was slack, and drool dribbled down his chin.
“It’s a shame that you’d altered the poison within the firethorn. You could have rid the world of another corrupt king.”
I knew it was a jest, but I was beyond caring. I rubbed my arms and stared across the destroyed hall and the hundreds of people in various positions of sleep. Feet poked from under a table, some had collapsed on the floor, weapons still in hand.
I kneeled by the thorn that had once been the spindle and lifted the golden string, showing the unique knots I had tied and wrapped around it.
“A sleeping spell.”
“It is what I’m best at,” I said.
When I cast it, I had only meant to keep them asleep until the devil’s breath had run its course through their system. I had already discarded the pouch and destroyed the remains. But that was over a month ago, and they had not yet woken up.
“When do you plan on releasing them?” Rhea asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered, moving to sit upon the king’s throne, my fingers running along the wood, feeling the warmth.
Mother watched me warily.
“You don’t?” Rhea asked.
“I like it,” I said, giving them a half smile. “My head doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s quiet and yet”—I got up from the throne and walked over to a sleeping Devin propped up against a wall, his head slumped forward. I fixed a section of his hair that was out of place—“I’m not lonely.”
Rhea sucked in her breath. This isn’t right.
“Who asked you?” I snapped, spinning and knocking a goblet from the closest table. “I didn’t ask either of you to come here. I’m fine on my own.”
Rhea’s bottom lip trembled, her eyes filling with tears. “No, you’re not, Aura. You can’t hold them hostage. They aren’t to blame for Maeve’s death.”
“No, just him.” I pointed to the sleeping king before gesturing across the room to the sleeping Tatiana. “And her.”
“No,” Mother said. “It was Maeve who chose to disobey and come here against my wishes. You did as well, and now you both have suffered the consequences.”
“I did what you didn’t have the strength to do. What she should have done years ago. Instead of imprisoning Tatiana, you should have killed the king and queen, and then none of this would have happened. Now there’s peace in Rya. I did that.” I pointed out across the kingdom, to the fog that was no more. Tatiana’s thick forest of thorns was still present, a wall of protection around the palace that was currently keeping unwanted intruders out. But the rest of the kingdom had slowly begun to rebuild. Refugees returned to their homes, their crops, and their families.
“It wasn’t time,” Mother whispered. “Events had to occur in a certain order to get the outcome that would do the most good.”
“Oh come now, Mother,” I teased. “Isn’t this what you wanted. Revenge on the kingdoms? I finally did it, and I now rule a peaceful and sleepy kingdom. You should be proud.”